Loch a' Chreachain

You'll find this remote loch tucked into the Argyll hills between Taynuilt and the wider expanse of Loch Awe - it's the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. Loch a' Chreachain is small and quiet, a proper freshwater loch that rewards walkers willing to venture off the main tourist beat. The water itself is dark and reflective, ringed by moorland and forestry that gives it an almost secretive feel.

It's genuinely worth the drive from Taynuilt if you're after solitude rather than spectacle. You won't find facilities or crowds here - this isn't somewhere to bring young children expecting ice cream vans. But if you're hiking, fishing, or simply want to sit with a thermos and watch the light change on the water, you'll have the place almost to yourself. Photography types will appreciate the raw landscape without the postcard tourists.

There's no visitor infrastructure that I'm aware of, so come prepared. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're walking the shoreline, longer if you're just settling in. It's free access on public land, though be respectful of any fishing activity - this is working countryside, not a leisure park.

If you're based at Loch Awe Camping Pods, which sits just 5 miles away, this makes an excellent morning expedition before returning for a proper lunch. The contrast between the two lochs is striking - Awe feels more managed and accessible, while Chreachain remains genuinely wild.